COPJ vs. IAUM

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

COPJ (Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF) and IAUM (iShares Gold Trust Micro) are both exchange-traded funds - COPJ is a Commodity Producers Equities fund tracking the Nasdaq Sprott Junior Copper Miners Index, while IAUM is a Gold fund tracking the LBMA Gold Price PM. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, COPJ returned 40.03%/yr vs 30.12%/yr for IAUM. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. COPJ charges 0.78%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for IAUM.

Performance

COPJ vs. IAUM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF (COPJ) and iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, COPJ achieves a 2.88% return, which is significantly higher than IAUM's 0.28% return.

COPJ

• 1D: 0.12%
• 1M: -7.29%
• YTD: 2.88%
• 6M: 14.73%
• 1Y: 92.31%
• 3Y*: 40.03%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

IAUM

• 1D: 0.21%
• 1M: -8.41%
• YTD: 0.28%
• 6M: 3.16%
• 1Y: 30.56%
• 3Y*: 30.12%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

COPJ vs. IAUM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
COPJ Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF	2.88%	140.63%	11.07%	-5.30%
IAUM iShares Gold Trust Micro	0.28%	64.27%	27.04%	7.85%

Correlation

The correlation between COPJ and IAUM is 0.53, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.53
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.49
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 3, 2023	0.46

The correlation between COPJ and IAUM has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.46 to 0.53 - a consistent structural relationship.

COPJ vs. IAUM - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	COPJ	IAUM
Basic Materials	100.0%	-
Technology	3.6%	-
Communication Services	-	-
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Energy	-	-
Financial Services	-	-
Healthcare	-	-
Industrials	-	-
Real Estate	-	100.0%
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

COPJ vs. IAUM — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

COPJ

COPJ Risk / Return Rank: 62
COPJ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
COPJ Sortino Ratio Rank: 57
COPJ Omega Ratio Rank: 64
COPJ Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
COPJ Martin Ratio Rank: 53

IAUM

IAUM Risk / Return Rank: 34
IAUM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 35
IAUM Sortino Ratio Rank: 31
IAUM Omega Ratio Rank: 39
IAUM Calmar Ratio Rank: 34
IAUM Martin Ratio Rank: 29

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

COPJ vs. IAUM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF (COPJ) and iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	COPJ	IAUM	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.13	1.16	+0.97
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.46	1.54	+0.91
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.23	+0.11
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.88	1.53	+1.34
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.26	3.84	+4.42
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

COPJ vs. IAUM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current COPJ Sharpe Ratio is 2.13, which is higher than the IAUM Sharpe Ratio of 1.16. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of COPJ and IAUM, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	COPJ	IAUM	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.13	1.16	+0.97
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.95	1.11	-0.17

Drawdowns

COPJ vs. IAUM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum COPJ drawdown since its inception was -32.28%, which is greater than IAUM's maximum drawdown of -20.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for COPJ and IAUM.

Drawdown Indicators

	COPJ	IAUM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-32.28%	-20.87%	-11.41%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-32.28%	-20.02%	-12.26%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-32.28%	-20.02%	-12.26%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-21.36%	-19.85%	-1.51%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-11.88%	-5.33%	-6.55%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	11.21%	7.98%	+3.23%

Volatility

COPJ vs. IAUM - Volatility Comparison

Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF (COPJ) has a higher volatility of 18.39% compared to iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) at 5.64%. This indicates that COPJ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IAUM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	COPJ	IAUM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	18.39%	5.64%	+12.75%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	37.05%	23.20%	+13.85%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	43.71%	26.57%	+17.14%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	35.26%	17.92%	+17.34%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	35.26%	17.92%	+17.34%

COPJ vs. IAUM - Expense Ratio Comparison

COPJ has a 0.78% expense ratio, which is higher than IAUM's 0.09% expense ratio.

Dividends

COPJ vs. IAUM - Dividend Comparison

COPJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 11.25%, while IAUM has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
COPJ Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF	11.25%	11.57%	11.64%	2.48%
IAUM iShares Gold Trust Micro	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both COPJ and IAUM in my portfolio?

COPJ and IAUM have a correlation of 0.53, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, COPJ or IAUM?

COPJ has higher volatility (18.39%) compared to IAUM (5.64%). In terms of maximum drawdown, COPJ dropped -32.28% vs IAUM's -20.87%.

Which ETF is better, COPJ or IAUM?

On 3-year performance, COPJ leads with 40.03% vs 30.12% for IAUM. On fees, IAUM is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, IAUM has been the lower-risk option at 5.64%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, COPJ or IAUM?

Over the 3-year period, COPJ has performed better with a 40.03% return vs 30.12%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, COPJ or IAUM?

IAUM is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.78% for COPJ.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, COPJ or IAUM?

COPJ has the higher dividend yield at 11.25%, compared with 0.00% for IAUM.

What is the main difference between COPJ and IAUM?

COPJ is categorized as Commodity Producers Equities, while IAUM is Gold. COPJ tracks Nasdaq Sprott Junior Copper Miners Index, while IAUM tracks LBMA Gold Price PM. They also come from different issuers: Sprott and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.78% for COPJ and 0.09% for IAUM.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

COPJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.13 vs 1.16), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.